Why The Founder of a $4BN Company Tracks Every Minute of His Life... - Moneywise Recap

Podcast: Moneywise

Published: 2026-02-26

Duration: 14 min

Summary

Mario Schlosser, co-founder of Oscar Health, attributes his company's success to meticulous time tracking and a unique problem-solving approach called radical decomposition. Through these methods, he navigated complexities in building a $4 billion health insurance company.

What Happened

In this episode, host Alexa interviews Mario Schlosser, who reveals his unconventional practice of tracking every minute of his life in a comprehensive spreadsheet since 2012. This habit began as a way to impose discipline on his work routine, allowing him to measure productivity and make data-driven decisions. Mario explains that this tracking not only helped him stay focused but also provided him clarity during challenging times, especially after Oscar went public and faced stock price struggles. His data-driven insights led him to recognize patterns in his work habits and mental health, enabling him to adjust his focus and energy towards more creative endeavors rather than getting consumed by external advice requests.

Mario also discusses the concept of radical decomposition, which he learned while working at Bridgewater Associates. This approach involves breaking down complex problems into manageable parts, a strategy he applied to build Oscar Health from the ground up despite having no prior experience in the insurance industry. By identifying and insourcing critical components necessary for running an insurance company, he and his team were able to create a robust operational framework that distinguished Oscar from over 30 other failed entrants in the market. Mario emphasizes that the early phases of a project don’t need to be perfect; instead, they should allow for exploration and gradual development, highlighting the importance of patience and adaptability in entrepreneurship.

Key Insights